Global Cement News

Trinidad & Tobago: Rock Hard Cement says it will close during January 2021 in Trinidad due to alleged changes in government tariffs on imported cement. It hopes to reopen In February 2021, according to the Trinidad & Tobago Guardian newspaper. The company has published advertisements in local media warning of potential price rises of up to 80% in 2021. As well as changes to import costs the cement importer claims that the quantity of imported cement will be restricted to 75,000t/yr. The Ministry of Trade and Industry said it couldn’t comment on the matter as it is currently undergoing legal proceedings.

Dominican Republic: The Dominican Association of Portland Cement Producers (ADOCEM) estimates that local production fell by 8% year-on-year in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic. Julissa Báez, the executive director of ADOCEM, said this compared to a 16% drop in the construction industry generally, according to local media. She added that local cement plants were allowed to continue production during a local lockdown that started in March 2020.

Saudi Arabia: The Ministry of Transport has granted Najran Cement a licence to launch its own limited liability transportation company. Reuters News has reported that the company is in the process of obtaining the final licence for the launch.

Oman: The Consumer Protection Authority (CPA) has intervened to suspend operations at a cement producing facility in Al Dhahirah Governorate. The Times of Oman has reported that the suspension results from repeated complaints to the CPA’s consumer protection department about product quality. The operation is also suspended from selling its goods.

Nigeria: BUA Cement and Dangote have signed an agreement with the government to supply cement at a discounted rate for the construction of 300,000 homes under the government’s Mass Housing Programme, according to The Sun newspaper.

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo said that the producers have agreed to provide cement for this project at a ‘considerable’ discount, which he described as ‘very helpful.’ He added, “Also important is the job creation aspect of it. You have young men and women who are builders, architects and civil engineers working on this project. We are hoping that a lot of the other building materials will be made locally.”